Tool for tightening and buckling belts and straps



Nov. 5, 1940. v s. H.- HASKELL TOOL FQR-TIGHTENING AND BUCKLI NG BELTS AND STRAPS Fild ne 24, 1958 a IINVENTOR :SIHHaslceLfi ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED T STATES TOOL FOR TIGHTENING AND BUCKLING BELTS AND STRAPS Stacey H.'Haskell, Glarksburg, Calif. Application December 24, 1938, Serial No. 247,583

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a hand tool arranged to facilitate the tightening and buckling of belts and straps having initially separate end portions, one of which is provided 5 witha buckle and the other of which forms the tongue to connect with said buckle; the invention being specifically directed to a hand tool of the type described which is especially useful in connection withthe tightening and buckling of con- 1 tinuous draper belts as used on grain harvesters,

binders and the like. Although primarily designed for the above purpose, the tool is well suited for use to tighten and buckle any form of belt or strap having initially separate end portions and wherein it is desired to tension the belt or strap to a degree not possible by hand and to then readily connect the buckle and tongue end portions while holding the belt or strap under tension. For example, the tool may be used suc- 0 cessfully to tighten and buckle saddle girths.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial #189,231, filed February "7, 1938.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a tool, as above, which is arranged for ready connection with one end portion of a belt or strap; a tool which is manipulated by hand to effect a rapid and yet positive tightening of a belt or strap; a. tool which holds the belt or strap under'tension while the buckle and tongue portions are being connected; and a tool which is easy to disconnect from the belt or strap when the tightening and buckling operations are completed.

A further object of the invention is to incorporate means in the tool arranged to permit of adjustment of the same so that the one tool may be used with belts or straps of different widths, or having receiving holes for multiple buckle tines spaced apart different distances transversely.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the connector sleeve in non-operative or free position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of connector sleeve and inoperative position. 5

acters of reference on the drawing, and particu-' ill larly at present to Figs. 1-3 inclusive, the tool comprises an extension bar I, adapted to extend laterally of a belt or strap as will hereinafter appear; such bar I being non-circular-preferably hexagonal-at one end as shown, and formed 15 with a circular stem 2 at the other end. A common, socket type ratchet wrench 3 is engaged on the non-circular portion of the bar adjacent the outer end thereof; such wrench including, as usual, a pawl and ratchet unit 4 and a handle '0 5 which projects outward or radially away from the bar. A stop 6 in the bar prevents accidental disengagement of thewrench 3 from bar I.

Mounted on bar I close to wrench 3 is what may be termed a holding wrench and which com- 25 prises a hub I which surrounds the non-circular portion of the bar and is formed with a ratchet wheel 8. A housing or case 9 rotatably surrounds the hub and extends radially therefrom; there being a. handle or lever I0 pivoted intermediate 3 its ends as at I I between the sides of the housing and formed at its inner end as a. pawl I2 adapted for cooperation with ratchet 8. The housing 9 is disposed substantially horizontal when the tool is in use, and lever I0 is mounted with a major 35 portion of its length outward of the pivot II whereby when said lever is released from the hand its weight releases pawl I2 from the ratchet 8. An L shaped member I3 is fixed on and depends from the housing and is intended to engage with the adjacent edge of the belt or strap which is to be tightened or buckled.

The stem 2, which is circular in cross section, has a sleeve I I rotatably mounted thereon. At its outer end of the stem is formed with a fixed 4 radial pin I5 which may be selectively engaged in either one of a pair of circumferentially spaced slots I6 and I1 cut longitudinally in the sleeve from its outer end. When pin I5 is engaged in one of these slots, the sleeve is fixed relative to 5' the bar I and for the purpose hereinafter described. Th slots I6 and I! are of different depths so that the sleeve may be positioned different distances laterally inward from the wrenches and member I3 and depending on the width of the belt or strap. The stem 2 is of such length that the sleeve may be withdrawn from the pin I5 and rotate freely, see Fig. 3.

Radial pins I8 are threaded into the sleeve in spaced, parallel relation; the spacing between the pins being the same as that between the transversely spaced buckle tine receiving holes (not shown) in the tongue portion of the belt or strap whereby said pins may engage in said holes. In order that the tool may be adaptable to belts or straps having different spacing between such holes, additional tapped bores 19 ar provided and into which the pins may be threaded.

In Figs. 4 and 5, the tool is substantially the same as above described except that the stem la is provided at its outer end with an enlarged head 20 which prevents escape of sleeve Ma; the slot 2| in this instance being cut longitudinally inward from the inner end of the sleeve and the fixed radial pin 22 mounted on the stem so as to engage in the bottom of the slot 2| when the sleeve has moved inward as far as possible on the stem. Of course, in this embodiment the sleeve is free to rotate when moved outward and away from the pin. If desired, both of the slot and pin embodiments described above may be incorporated in a single tool so as to increase the distance which the sleeve may be adjusted along the stem and yet be placed in fixed position relative to said stem.

Operation To tighten and buckle a belt or strap with my improved tool, the tongue portion of the belt or strap is first inserted through the buckle on the other or adjacent .end and in the usual manner. Thereafter, the member I 3 is engaged with one edge of the belt or strap and with the bar I extending transversely thereof. The sleeve [4 (or Ma) is then engaged with the corresponding fixed radial pin on the stem and in whichever slot positions such sleeve so that the radial pins thereon will engage in the buckle tine receiving holes of the tongue.

Thereafter, the operator grasps handle it in one hand and handle 5 in the other hand; handle l being held so as to engage pawl l2 with ratchet 8. Handle of ratchet wrench 3 is then manipulated back and forth which effects intermittent rotation of bar i and the sleeve thereon. When this occurs the tongue portion of the belt or strap is drawn through the buckle and wound about the sleeve much in the manner of a windlass. The pawl l2 on handle H3 and cooperating with ratchet 8 serves as a holding unit to prevent unwinding of the tongue from the sleeve whil the handle 5 of ratchet wrench 3 is being retracted and between the intermittent bar rotating movements thereof. The ratchet of unit l4 and ratchet 8 both face of course in the same direction and cooperate with their corresponding pawls to hold the bar against rotation in the same direction.

When the belt or strap has been tightened to the desired amount, handl I!) is released which permits the tension or pull to be imparted to handle 5, and by easy manipulation of such han-.

dle, the buckle tines may readily be inserted through the holes therefor in the tongue.

When the belt or strap has been so buckled,

the bar I is shifted longitudinally which releases the sleeve from the holding pin on the stem and permits easy unwinding of the tongue from said sleeve and detachment of the tool.

In some instances where dual buckles are used and where the belt or strap is relatively wide, two of the tools will be used simultaneously and will be disposed on opposite sides of the belt or strap one tool being a right hand unit and the other a left hand unit. In'this manner the same tension can be had on both sides of the belt or strap and at the same time as is desirable.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practic such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tool adapted for use in connection with the tightening and buckling of belts and straps which include a buckle and a tongue, said tool comprising a bar, manually operative means on the bar to rotate the same, a rotatable sleeve on the bar spaced from said means, a radial pin fixed on and projecting from said sleeve, the pin being adapted to engage in a buckle tine hole in the tongue, and means to selectively secure the sleeve and bar against relative rotation.

2. A tool adapted for use in connection with the tightening and buckling of bolts and straps which include a buckle and a tongue, said tool comprising a bar, manually operative means on the bar to rotate the same, a rotatable sleeve on the bar spaced from said means, a radial pin fixed on and projecting from said sleeve, the pin being adapted to engage in a buckle tine hole in the tongue, and a radial stop pin fixed on the bar, the sleeve having a slot cut therein longitudinally from the end adjacent said stop pin and adapted to receive the same, and the sleeve being slidable along the bar in a direction away from the pin a distance greater than the slot length.

3. A tool as in claim 2 in which the sleeve includes circumferentially spaced slots of difierent lengths to alternately receive the stop pin; the distance which the sleeve may slide along the bar being greater than the maximum slot length.

4. A tool adapted for use in connection with the tightening and buckling of belts and straps which include a buckle and a tongue, said tool comprising a bar, manually operative means on the bar to rotate the same, a circular stem on one end of the bar spaced from said means, an

enlarged head onthe outer end of the stem, a rotatable sleeve mounted on the stem, the stem being of greater length than the sleeve, said vsleeve having a slot cut longitudinally therein 

